Storm Clouds Rolling In (77 page)

Carrie gasped.
“He wants Virginian’s to fight against the South? They will never do that!”

“You’re so right,” Thomas said grimly.
“Lincoln has gone too far this time. The convention is meeting tomorrow. I am sure the vote will be for secession. However strongly most of us feel about the Union, we are Virginians and Southerners first. We will never fight against those we are so closely linked with. Lincoln’s choice to use force is a grave mistake.” He shook his head. “I knew it was coming. Still,” he sighed, “it breaks my heart. What this country had was glorious...” His voice trailed off as he gazed absently out the window at the profusion of flowers heralding spring. Carrie joined him next to the window, linking her arm with his. Together, they stared into the future.

Carrie could sense the dark clouds settling over her beloved country.
Their time had come. She thought about all she had learned in the past year and accepted the reality that from the very first moment slavery had been permitted in a country founded on freedom, the threatening clouds presence had been permitted. They had long boiled on the horizon, but now, fed by passion and greed, they were at full strength and intent on devouring everything in their path.

Carrie shuddered
and edged closer to her father. Neither spoke as she allowed her thoughts to roam. One year ago, she had made the decision to live her life honestly—letting no one else’s opinion form who she would be. It had been a year of massive personal change, challenges, and radical actions. There was not a single one she regretted, but never had she felt so alone, nor so completely fulfilled.

War had come.
She would face it.

Carrie had just settled into the carriage seat when she saw her
father hurrying up the street. “Father,” she said as he drew near enough, “we said our goodbyes this morning.”

Thomas reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope.
“I thought you might want this before you leave,” he said, handing it to her.

Carrie looked down at the familiar handwriting.
“Robert,” she said softly. She thought of waiting until she was alone to open the letter, but her impatience and curiosity won out. It took only a moment to break the seal and pull out the single sheet of linen paper.

       
Dear Carrie,

Virginia is now a part of the Confederacy.
As expected, I have been offered a commission as an officer in the new army. I am now Lieutenant Robert Borden. I suddenly realize I find no great thrill in the honor bestowed on me. The reality that I may be fighting friends I spent years in college with has settled upon my heart.

Carrie, I am doing what you asked.
I am trying to find out the truth. You are not the only one to challenge me recently. For me, there are now two battles. One for my country, the other to determine my own beliefs. Please pray for me. I love you, Carrie. I will return.

Love,

Robert

Carrie smiled as she refolded the letter.
Was there hope after all?

Thomas looked at her closely, then reached into the carriage to give her a big hug, holding her tight for a long moment.
“I love you.” He paused, and Carrie looked at him expectantly. “Promise me something, Carrie,” he continued hoarsely. “Promise me you will leave the plantation if it becomes too dangerous.” Sudden tears sprang into his eyes. “I’ve lost one of the two women in my life. I can’t bear the thought of losing the other as well.”

“I promise,” Carrie whispered.
She brushed back her tears and kissed her father on his cheek. “I promise…”

Read the first 2 Chapters of Book # 2 – On To Richmond – starting
on the next page!

On To Richmond

ONE

MAY 1861

Carrie Cromwell frowned as she stared out over the raging, turbulent waters of the James River.
Four days of steady rain had transformed the usually placid river into a furious monster tearing at its confining banks. Torrents of water sweeping down from the western Appalachian Mountains would soon enable the river to succeed in its quest to top the banks and seek its claim on the surrounding farmland. Massive tree trunks swept by like weightless match sticks, their solid darkness almost matching the muddy swirl of the water.

             
Carrie lifted her eyes from the river to gaze up into the brilliant blue sky. The rain had ended just the night before, leaving the air crystal clear and deliciously fresh. She allowed herself to stare up into it for just a moment before she turned her eyes back to the river. It more closely matched her thoughts.

             
“Are you going to tell me about the letter you got from your Father? Or are you just going to continue stewing about it?”

             
Carrie managed a slight smile as she turned to look at Rose. “How did you know?” Then she laughed. “Don’t even bother to answer that question. I should know by now that you know me almost as well as I know myself.”

             
Carrie lapsed into brooding silence again, knowing Rose would give her all the time she needed to answer her question. Granite, her towering grey Thoroughbred gelding, moved under her restlessly as the waters of the river won their fight with the muddy banks and began to edge slowly toward where the two friends watched from astride their horses. Finally, she reached deep into the pocket of the navy blue dress she wore and pulled out a thick envelope.

             
“This letter from Father came just this morning.”

             
Rose nodded. “I saw the man who delivered it.” She paused, and then asked carefully. “Is it bad news?”

             
Carrie managed a slight laugh. “Is there anything
but
bad news in our country right now? Fort Sumter has fallen. Virginia has seceded. The war has begun...” She shook her head. It would not do to let her thoughts go where they wanted to. She knew the thoughts would come - later - when it was dark and there was no flurry of activity to block them out. But for now she would concentrate on what was at hand. She raised her hand and stuffed an errant, wavy black strand of hair back into her long braid. In a hurry to get to the river, she hadn’t even bothered to shape it into a bun. Now the silky strands sought to escape the confines of the thick braid as the breeze teased her hair into rebellion.

             
A frown creased her brow again as she stared down at the letter in her hand. “Father has been asked by Governor Letcher to take a high position in the Virginia state government.”

             
“Surely you expected that. Your father has been working with the Governor since he left in November.”

             
Carrie frowned again as memories of her father’s hopelessness after the death of his beloved wife, Abigail, swept through her mind. She missed her mother, too, but they had grown close only in the last month of her life so her death hadn’t left the same gaping hole. She nodded as Rose’s words penetrated her thoughts. “Yes, of course I expected it...”

             
“Then what is troubling you so much?” Rose demanded.

             
Carrie almost smiled at the impatience in her friend’s voice. The freedom they experienced in their friendship was wonderful. A year ago, things had been very different. Rose had still been her best friend, but the reality of Rose being her personal slave, while she lived the luxurious life of a wealthy plantation owner’s daughter, had put an impenetrable barrier of protocol between them. The past year had blown those barriers away. Now they were like sisters.

             
Carrie struggled to express her feelings. “Everything is so different now...” she began haltingly. “It was exciting to think of Father standing close to the helm of Virginia when we were still part of the Union and everyone was fighting so hard to keep it that way. But now...” She paused and stared out at the rampaging river as she tried to force her turbulent thoughts into some form of order. “Father believed so much in keeping the Union together. Now he has flung himself into the struggle for Southern independence. I guess that’s what is hard. He is fighting just as hard to defend what he didn’t believe in, as he fought to keep it from happening.” She shook her head slowly. “I still can’t believe it’s true. Virginia is no longer a part of the United States. I am no longer a United States citizen.”

             
“What else did your father say, Carrie?” Rose’s voice was now gentle, as if she sensed the deep turmoil boiling in her friend.

             
Carrie shook her head more firmly. “I’m sorry.” Her short laugh held no humor. “I realize I’m not being very communicative today. Let me try this again.” She gazed down at the letter she held in her hand, and searched for the right place. “Here it is...” She straightened in the saddle to read her father’s words, bracing herself to accept the truth of what she read.